Toilet Water Saving Device

ABSTRACT

A toilet water saving device comprising a pump, an input pipe, an output pipe and an actuator. The pump removes fluid from the toilet bowl upon activation, taking it in via the input pipe and pumping it out through the output pipe and into the drainage, thereby saving the flushing water. The bowl end of the input pipe may be connected to the bowl and the pump may be protected from solids by a lattice on the bowl end. The device may further comprise a grinder for grinding solids so that they do not damage the pump.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of water saving devices, andmore particularly, to a device for saving toilet flushing water.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Water shortage increases steadily and encompasses ever growing parts ofthe world. Water shortage is due to over exploitation of existing watersources and damage to them on the one hand, and wastage of water on theother hand.

Home water usage is versatile, yet toilet water used to flush bowlcontent is about a third of the total home water expenditure.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a toilet water savingdevice comprising: a pump installable on a toilet having a bowl, a drainpipe, and a water container operable by a flushing actuator arranged tocontrol an amount of water released from the water container, an inputpipe connected to the pump and connected to a bottom of the bowl suchthat the input pipe is in fluid communication with fluid in the bowl; anoutput pipe connected to the pump and in fluid communication with thedrain pipe; and an actuator connected to the pump, arranged to activatethe pump, further connected to and arranged to activate the flushingactuator, wherein upon activation, the pump is arranged to displace thefluid from the bottom of the bowl through the input pipe and furtherthrough the output pipe to the drain pipe, wherein following thedisplacement, the pump is halted and water is released from the watercontainer, wherein the flushing actuator is arranged to release areduced amount of water from the container upon activation be theactuator, and wherein the toilet water saving device saves flushingwater due to the displacement of the fluid by the pump.

Accordingly, according to an aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a toilet water saving device, wherein the input pipe isconnected to the bottom of the bowl at a bowl end, and wherein the bowlend is covered by a lattice arranged to prevent solids above apredefined size to enter the input pipe and damage the pump.

Accordingly, according to another aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a toilet water saving device, further comprising a grinderconnected to the input pipe and arranged to grind solids entering theinput pipe to a size smaller than a predefined size selected such as toavoid damage to the pump.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a water saving systemcomprising: a toilet comprising a bowl, a drain pipe, and a watercontainer operable by a flushing actuator arranged to control an amountof water released from the water container; a pump integrated in thetoilet such that it is electrically isolated from water and fluid in thetoilet; an input pipe connected to the pump and connected to a bottom ofthe bowl such that the input pipe is in fluid communication with fluidin the bowl; an output pipe connected to the pump and in fluidcommunication with the drain pipe; and an actuator connected to thepump, arranged to activate the pump, further connected to and arrangedto activate the flushing actuator, wherein upon activation, the pump isarranged to displace the fluid from the bottom of the bowl through theinput pipe and further through the output pipe to the drain pipe,wherein following the displacement, the pump is halted and water isreleased from the water container, wherein the flushing actuator isarranged to release a reduced amount of water from the container uponactivation be the actuator, and wherein the water saving system savesflushing water due to the displacement of the fluid by the pump.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of saving water inoperation of a toilet having a bowl, a drain pipe, and a watercontainer, comprising: pumping fluid from a bottom of the bowl down thedrain pipe; and releasing a reduced amount of water from the watercontainer, wherein the fluid comprises urine, and wherein the methodsaves flushing water due to the pumping the fluid from the bottom of thebowl.

These, additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the presentinvention are: set forth in the detailed description which follows;possibly inferable from the detailed description; and/or learnable bypractice of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more readily understood from the detaileddescription of embodiments thereof made in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a toilet water savingdevice and a water saving system, according to some embodiments of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a high level schematic block diagram of a toilet water savingdevice and a water saving system, according to some embodiments of theinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a high level schematic flowchart illustrating a method ofsaving water in operation of a toilet, according to some embodiments ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is applicable to other embodiments or of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic illustrations of a toilet water savingdevice 100 and a water saving system 160, according to some embodimentsof the invention. FIG. 2 is a high level schematic block diagram of atoilet water saving device and a water saving system, according to someembodiments of the invention. Toilet water saving device 100 comprises apump 110 installable on a toilet 90 having a bowl 92, a drain pipe 94,and a water container 96 operable by a flushing actuator 98 arranged tocontrol an amount of water released from water container 96.

Toilet water saving device 100 may further comprise an input pipe 120connected to pump 110 and connected to a bottom of bowl 92 such thatinput pipe 120 is in fluid communication with fluid 99 in bowl 92.

Toilet water saving device 100 may further comprise an output pipe 130connected to pump 110 and in fluid communication with drain pipe 94.

Toilet water saving device 100 may further comprise an actuator 140connected to pump 110, arranged to activate pump 110, further connectedto and arranged to activate flushing actuator 98. Upon activation, pump110 is arranged to displace fluid 99 from the bottom of bowl 92 throughinput pipe 120 and further through output pipe 130 to drain pipe 94.Following the displacement, pump 110 is halted and water is releasedfrom water container 96. Flushing actuator 98 is arranged to release areduced amount of water from container 96 upon activation be actuator140. Toilet water saving device 100 saves flushing water due to thedisplacement of fluid 99 by pump 110.

According to some embodiments of the invention, fluid 99 may compriseurine. Pumping fluid 99 with urine out of bowl 92 spares flushing waterthat are usually used to remove urine. Extending toilet water savingdevice 100 to deal with solids require toilet water saving device 100 tofurther comprise a grinder 150 (FIG. 2) connected to input pipe 120 andarranged to grind solids entering input pipe 120 to a size smaller thana predefined size selected such as to avoid damage to pump 110. Groundsolids may then be pumped by pump 110 to output pipe 130 and drain pipe94.

According to some embodiments of the invention, input pipe 120 may beconnected to the bottom of bowl 92 at a bowl end 122 covered by alattice 124 (FIG. 1B) arranged to prevent solids above a predefined sizeto enter input pipe 120 and damage pump 110. Lattice 124 may selected toeffectively filter fluid 99 such that solids that may damage pump 110are kept out of input pipe 120, for example when flushing solids whennot using toilet water saving device 100.

According to some embodiments of the invention, input pipe 120 andoutput pipe 130 enter toilet 90 through drain pipe 94 and not throughthe bowl 92. This allows an easy installation of toilet water savingdevices 100 on existing toilets 90 and also allow a good sealing of thepipe connections. Pump 110 may be situated outside bowl 92 and outsidedrain pipe 94, such that pump 110 and actuator 140 are isolated fromfluid 99 and the water. Actuator 140 may be attached to water container96 on the outside. Alternatively, actuator 140 may be integrated in orconnected to flushing actuator 98.

According to some embodiments of the invention, water saving system 160comprising toilet 90 comprising bowl 92, drain pipe 94, and watercontainer 96 operable by flushing actuator 98 arranged to control anamount of water released from water container 96; pump 110 integrated intoilet 90 such that it is electrically isolated from water and fluid 99in toilet 90; input pipe 120 connected to pump 110 and connected to abottom of bowl 92 such that input pipe 120 is in fluid communicationwith fluid 99 in bowl 92; output pipe 130 connected to pump 110 and influid communication with drain pipe 94; and actuator 140 connected topump 110, arranged to activate pump 110, further connected to andarranged to activate flushing actuator 98. Upon activation, pump 110 isarranged to displace fluid 99 from the bottom of bowl 92 through inputpipe 120 and further through output pipe 130 to drain pipe 94. Followingthe displacement, pump 110 is halted and water is released from watercontainer 96. Flushing actuator 98 is arranged to release a reducedamount of water from container 96 upon activation be actuator 140. Watersaving system 160 saves flushing water due to the displacement of fluid99 by pump 110.

FIG. 3 is a high level schematic flowchart illustrating a method ofsaving water in operation of a toilet, according to some embodiments ofthe invention. The toilet has a bowl, a drain pipe, and a watercontainer the method comprises the following stages: pumping the fluidfrom a bottom of the bowl down the drain pipe (stage 200); and releasinga reduced amount of water from the water container (stage 210), whereinthe fluid comprises urine, and wherein the method saves flushing waterdue to the pumping the fluid from the bottom of the bowl. The method mayfurther comprise grinding solids in the fluid to a size smaller than apredefined size (stage 220).

Advantageously, toilet water saving device 100, water saving system 160and the method may allow sparing at least a half of the water currentlyused to flush toilet 90. In fact, water is only needed to fill back bowl92, and no flushing water is required, as removal of fluid 99 is carriedout essentially by pump 110. Actuator 140 may be fully integrated influshing actuator 98, be of separate functioning as an additionalelement., or be partly integrated therein.

Elements of the invention may be selected according to the expectedintensity of their usage, for example industrial or public toilets maybe equipped with heavy duty pump 110, pipes 120, 130 and actuator 140.

In the above description, an embodiment is an example or implementationof the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “anembodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to thesame embodiments.

Although various features of the invention may be described in thecontext of a single embodiment, the features may also be providedseparately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although theinvention may be described herein in the context of separate embodimentsfor clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a singleembodiment.

Reference in the specification to “some embodiments”, “an embodiment”,“one embodiment” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but notnecessarily all embodiments, of the inventions.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employedherein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptivepurpose only.

The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may bebetter understood with reference to the accompanying description,figures and examples.

It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construea limitation to an application of the invention.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carriedout or practiced in various ways and that the invention can beimplemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in thedescription above.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”,“consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude theaddition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers orgroups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifyingcomponents, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, thatdoes not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to“a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there isonly one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that acomponent, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can”or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure,or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may beused to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to thosediagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow neednot move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the sameorder as illustrated and described.

Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing orcompleting manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selectedsteps or tasks.

The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and proceduresfor accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, thosemanners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readilydeveloped from known manners, means, techniques and procedures bypractitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in theclaims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting butrather as illustrative only.

Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to becommonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which theinvention belongs, unless otherwise defined.

The present invention may be implemented in the testing or practice withmethods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein.

Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles,referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated intheir entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if eachindividual publication was specifically and individually indicated to beincorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of anyreference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shallnot be construed as an admission that such reference is available asprior art to the present invention.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on thescope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of thepreferred embodiments. Other possible variations, modifications, andapplications are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly,the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus farbeen described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

1. A toilet water saving device comprising: a pump installable on atoilet having a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container operable by aflushing actuator arranged to control an amount of water released fromthe water container, an input pipe connected to the pump and connectedto a bottom of the bowl such that the input pipe is in fluidcommunication with fluid in the bowl; an output pipe connected to thepump and in fluid communication with the drain pipe; and an actuatorconnected to the pump, arranged to activate the pump, further connectedto and arranged to activate the flushing actuator, wherein uponactivation, the pump is arranged to displace the fluid from the bottomof the bowl through the input pipe and further through the output pipeto the drain pipe, wherein following the displacement, the pump ishalted and water is released from the water container, wherein theflushing actuator is arranged to release a reduced amount of water fromthe container upon activation be the actuator, and wherein the toiletwater saving device saves flushing water due to the displacement of thefluid by the pump.
 2. The toilet water saving device of claim 1, whereinthe fluid comprises urine.
 3. The toilet water saving device of claim 1,wherein the input pipe is connected to the bottom of the bowl at a bowlend, and wherein the bowl end is covered by a lattice arranged toprevent solids above a predefined size to enter the input pipe anddamage the pump.
 4. The toilet water saving device of claim 1, furthercomprising a grinder connected to the input pipe and arranged to grindsolids entering the input pipe to a size smaller than a predefined sizeselected such as to avoid damage to the pump.
 5. The toilet water savingdevice of claim 1, wherein both input pipe and output pipe enter thetoilet through the drain pipe and not through the bowl.
 6. The toiletwater saving device of claim 1, wherein the pump is situated outside thebowl and outside the drain pipe, such that the actuator is isolated fromthe fluid and the water.
 7. The toilet water saving device of claim 1,wherein the actuator is attached to the water container on the outside.8. A water saving system comprising: a toilet comprising a bowl, a drainpipe, and a water container operable by a flushing actuator arranged tocontrol an amount of water released from the water container; a pumpintegrated in the toilet such that it is electrically isolated fromwater and fluid in the toilet; an input pipe connected to the pump andconnected to a bottom of the bowl such that the input pipe is in fluidcommunication with fluid in the bowl; an output pipe connected to thepump and in fluid communication with the drain pipe; and an actuatorconnected to the pump, arranged to activate the pump, further connectedto and arranged to activate the flushing actuator, wherein uponactivation, the pump is arranged to displace the fluid from the bottomof the bowl through the input pipe and further through the output pipeto the drain pipe, wherein following the displacement, the pump ishalted and water is released from the water container, wherein theflushing actuator is arranged to release a reduced amount of water fromthe container upon activation be the actuator, and wherein the watersaving system saves flushing water due to the displacement of the fluidby the pump.
 9. The water saving system of claim 8, wherein the inputpipe is connected to the bottom of the bowl at a bowl end, and whereinthe bowl end is covered by a lattice arranged to prevent solid above apredefined size to enter the input pipe and damage the pump.
 10. Thewater saving system of claim 8, further comprising a grinder connectedto the input pipe and arranged to grind solids entering the input pipeto a size smaller than a predefined size selected such as to avoiddamage to the pump.
 11. A method of saving water in operation of atoilet having a bowl, a drain pipe, and a water container, comprising:pumping fluid from a bottom of the bowl down the drain pipe; andreleasing a reduced amount of water from the water container, whereinthe fluid comprises urine, and wherein the method saves flushing waterdue to the pumping the fluid from the bottom of the bowl.
 12. The methodof claim 11, further comprising grinding solids in the fluid to a sizesmaller than a predefined size.